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Notes In Observance – WWE NXT 11/9/16: Mighty Penmanship

“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.

(Aired 11/9/16)

Mighty Penmanship

– The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament Semifinal match between #DIY and The Authors Of Pain already had a different feel since it came from the Palladium Arena in California. The live event environments certainly help the matches feel more special. That said, this was easily AOP’s best effort to date thanks to the energetic fight brought by #DIY. It wasn’t all the faces though, as there was a cool spot where AOP caught Johnny Gargano on a suicide dive attempt and then bombarded him at Tommaso Ciampa when he tried to do the same. We also saw Paul Ellering get physically involved again as he bashed Gargano’s head into the apron. Another highlight was where Gargano countered a powerslam into a DDT, which led to the hot tag to Ciampa. Easily the best moment was Ciampa’s German Suplex on Razar, a feat in of itself. Razar battled back with a double fallaway slam for a near-fall. The faces had one of their own as they countered the double powerbomb into huracanranas. The finish was key and made sense, since we saw #DIY have the match won only to deal with Ellering on the apron and also set up NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival’s interference to cost them the match directly. AOP kept their undefeated strike alive and advance to the finals.

– “The Return” was again hyped for next week. Curious to see how that pays off. Could it be Hideo Itami?

– The Sit-Down interview segment with Tye Dillinger did a fine job of hype for his match against Bobby Roode at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. He expressed desire to make Roode pay for his deception and cheap shots, as he promised to kick him all over “The Perfect 10 City.” His serious tone came off great.

– The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament Semifinal match between Alexander Wolfe/Sawyer Fulton and TM61 also from the Palladium Arena wasn’t like the opener, but succeeded the mission in a different way. With the newly debuted Sanity stable still fresh, they needed to look strong, yet also lose believably. They accomplished that as Wolfe/Fulton wiped out Nick Miller from before the bell even rang, which left Shane Thorne by himself. The heels built up more heat as they knocked Miller off the apron before he could tag in when he got back up. Of course, that set up the big pop when he finally did tag in. As much intrigue as a Sanity-AOP tourney finals match sounded, we figured it’d have to go to TM61 since they had the most to gain. They need credibility where they can get it since they’re generic in terms of character development. The quick finish where the faces quickly rolled up the heels to escape with the win was fine for what it was, since it was the only way you’d possibly defeat Sanity these days. That said, kind of disappointed to see that it all comes down to AOP-TM61 as your finals.

– The backstage promo from NXT General Manager William Regal informed us that due to Revival’s actions earlier in the show, they’d be forced to defend against #DIY at Toronto in a Two-Out-Of-Three Falls match. Smart way to go about it and those two teams should kill it.

– The Sit-Down interview segment with Roode saw him build the match with Dillinger from his side, as he promised to embarrass the “loser and failure” Dillinger was and make Toronto “glorious.” Basic heel work, but effective hype nonetheless.

– The Rachael Evers-Ember Moon match was another bout to keep the one who frees flames with her vivid red pupils undefeated. She showed her striking ability and athleticism primarily and even gave up some offense to Evers, as she began a comeback and built it to her awesome finisher. We’ll still call it The Eclipse until we’re told different. In the bleak hopes of the NXT Women’s Division, Moon remains that bright light. It has to be a given that NXT Women’s Champion Asuka will battle her perhaps at NXT TakeOver: San Antonio or NXT TakeOver: Orlando.

– The in-ring contract signing segment with Regal, NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe progressed things some more without doing much. NXT always finds a way to change up the contract signing stereotype and twists some intrigue in there. This time, Joe refused to go in the ring with beefed-up security out of fear for his own actions. He sat at a table and chair onstage and bullied Regal to come up the ramp and hand him the contract. Great heel work there. It also helped that Joe’s tone added to the tension. Of course, we were baffled with the idea that Nakamura would assault security, but the idea was driven that Joe had broken this new side out of Nakamura out and he sought to send a message. A powerbomb through a table on a poor security guy will generally do that. In either scenario, Nakamura signed the contract and it was made official. That could be all the hype they need.

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About Nicholas Jason Lopez

Just a 25 year-old Brooklynite. Nothing more, nothing less.
Currently Freelancing for The Bensonhurst Bean website in Brooklyn, he has also been published on sites such as Review Fix, College University of New York Athletic Conference, Dying Scene, Brooklyn News Service, All Media NY, BrooklynFans.com and Yahoo Voices.
He has also interned for The Home Reporter/Brooklyn Spectator based out of Brooklyn, NY.